Chicken bald back

[HarrisonFamily]

I have been childminding for 6 years...I have looked after 50 children aged 9months to 11....

 

Just heard that Sir Michael Wilshaw ....believes that childminders and nurseries are ruining " childrens careers" by not getting them ready for schools....

 

The children I care for can sit, listen, independently get dressed and go to the loo, they can help care for the animals, show care and share with each other, they can run, climb and find great things in the woods, they can laugh get muddy, they can help with cooking.....let our children have a childhood !!!!!!!

 

Sorry early morning rant over...

[bluekarin]

I totally agree with you. Children are only children for such a short time. Let them enjoy it doing all the things you mentioned. Sounds like you are a great childminder These things help prepare them for life, not just for school.

[The Dogmother]

Exactly! I'm on that soapbox with you.

[Patricia W]

The interview I've just heard on BBC with an Ofsted spokesperson was actually talking about ways to reach the most disadvantaged children who perhaps come from areas of poverty. They are more likely to start school with less developed skills than children from the more affluent areas.

 

It may be worth reading the whole report, rather than the attention grabbing press headlines.

[bluekarin]

I have just read the article on the BBC news website. Do those kids from poorer areas who can't even hold a pen when they go to school even go to nursery? My kids didn't go to nursery, but went to toddler group and preschool and even before going to either of these, they could hold a pen from a very early age. Kids are learning all the time. Going to a childminder isn't about getting them ready for formal education. It is about them being in a safe, happy and fun environment. I am sure Harrisonfamily, you encourage drawing etc with the children you mind. I know my friend, who does the same thing, encourages hers to do so.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I heard a woman on the radio this morning saying some kids are coming to school with no language, still using a dummy and in a pushchair. These are obviously not the norm and are the product of poor parenting, for whatever reason, rather than nurseries and childminders.

[Grandmashazzie]

Agree ANH I think they are referring to the most disadvantaged.I worked as a health visitor and unless you have had contact with vulnerable families I don't think some can imagine how emotionally stunted these kids are or the damage,which I feel is irreparable ,by an impoverished poor 1st year.This is when brain development is so rapid and these little ones aren't talked to or sang to.Some are parked in buggies all day.I visited home where 18 month was in buggy,blinds drawn,no stimulation at all and when I tried to speak to him the mother turned buggy to face wall Lucky for him he was taken into care and then adopted but that negative 1st year can never be repeated and am sure he will not reach the potential he could have if in another 'good ' home.Sadly I don't know what the answer is.People who will never be parents who are available to their children and put their kids needs first will continue to reproduce and social services will rescue some.Its the ones we don't hear about until they hit headlines or go to school and fail that are the most in need.Sorry my rant over.

[Margaret]

The worlds gone mad, a friend of mine (a teacher ) had 2 children start Reception in nappies.

When mine started school they could tie their shoe laces and school tie I know i am gertting on a bit (56) but how has this happened that some children dont have such basic skills. Obviously my grandson is gifted as he can count to 20 knows his alphabet and colours is he normal or a genius.

[Margaret]

Sorry Granmashazzie, didnt even think of those poor children you were refering too. My reply now sounds quite flippant and wasnt ment too, suppose some of us are lucky and dont realise how terrible others home life can be.

[HarrisonFamily]

The problem is that nurseries and childminders are in the headlines and the report is regarding them....I agree that the most disadvantage children need help, but will the parents take them to nurseries in the first place or will they start making it compulsory for 2 year old to go to school.

Every child should be given the best start in life but I still feel that especially in the first few years more is learnt at home and perhaps the government should spend more money in social services to help identify these little ones who need help and more money to educate the parents....

 

Sir Michaels quote of "If anyone says to you that 'staff morale is at an all-time low' you will know you are doing something right." scared me and now talking about 2 year olds losing out on a 'career' ...........

[soapdragon]

I feel, very strongly, that children are pushed into 'education' far too quickly in this country. Luckily YS - who happened to be a 29 weeker - started school the term after his 5th birthday but I know that's extremely rare and that a lot of primary schools insist that they have only one intake per annum in spite of the fact that the law states that children only have to be in full time ed the term after their 5th b'day.

 

It seems that many schools try and pressurise parents into the now standard September start date, wherever that child's birthday falls tho this is, in fact, illegal If a place is offered then it has to be kept open. Basically all down to funding! (Am a Govenor at the boys school so have seen this from both sides!)

 

On the continent children start much later - tho they have slightly more formal nurseries (as YS did) so that they do have 'the basics' before formal schooling starts and they all seem to do OK!

 

Those poor unfortunates who are not parented well should, of course, be offered much more support or even, in rare cases taken into care if necessary for their welfare but this needs to be identified early on by Health Visitors/professionals etc. For the vast majority then let children be children and play without all these ridiculous 'targets' . Life's pressures kick in early enough so those early years are so precious.

 

Feel better now - thanks for reading!

[Space Chick]

What I couldn't see anywhere is that education through play doesn't seem like education at all.

 

My 3 year old nephew can count to over 1000, he knows his alphabet and can spell and read simple words.

 

Has my sister chained him to a desk and made him study?

 

No they have played together, counting, reading, playing with alphablocks. Does he realise he's learning things? Hell no, he's a kid having fun!!

 

So has he lost his childhood through starting a career early? No! But he can do simple sums with his toy cars!

[soapdragon]

EXACTLY

[patsylabrador]

I know most women will hate me for saying this but I hate our culture that doesn't understand the value of mothers simply being mothers and how crucial their role is to society. This is just my opinion but I worry that girls are taught that they must BE something, anything that isn't 'just' being a mother.

So many think being 'famous' has more value. I believe that being a mother is far too important to be so dismissed. A network of mums, aunties, grannies and female friends are the lynchpin of a successful society. The rise of controlling gangs which basically replicate this network show me how much this is needed, except that gangs are not benevolent.

I totally respect and envy women who can be mums and career women- I couldn't do it.

I feel bad though for young girls with a strong domestic nature who feel they shouldn't feel like that. Mothering skills are being lost along the way.

I've had this bottled up for ages, sorry if it's offensive to anyone. Just my point of view,

 

I took my kids out of school because I wanted them to learn a different way. I have never regretted it. I had lots of reasons but one was that society sets rules that can be challenged and we are a police family which may show how strongly I felt about that, I don't know.

I'm completely content with how my kids grew up and lots of their education was achieved through play. One small example that they still remember was about river basins and tributaries. Mud, digging and buckets of water, a sunny day and ice cream. Interlocking spurs followed by truncated spurs- more digging and mud.

Our garden was one big classroom, ES dug a trench and made tennis ball missiles for WW1 history. They flew over the fence- that was lots of fun.

So I believe education through play is wonderful BUT generally is not practical in a school.

I was at the coast yesterday and saw three school groups of kids having the most wonderful time doing geology I guess, on the beach. One group had a fire going on the beach, it looked fantastic. I bet they learnt stuff they will always remember.

[soapdragon]

I feel exactly the same - I worked very hard and had a good career until such time as I felt it was right to have children. We had stashed as much cash as we could so that I could give up work for the duration. Each to their own but I do think that ALL women should be supported in their decision as to whether to return to work or not.

 

Now I clean other peoples houses and work as bank staff at the local Children's Centre for a fraction of the salary that I was on but am very happy to do so. I was at home with both boys until ES was at school and YS at nursery 3 ams p/w.

 

I feel very lucky to have been in this situation tho it has meant sacrifices. Everyone has to make their own decision dependent on their circumstances but we have felt comfortable in giving up the two hols per annum etc that we had previously - we keep telling ourselves that its not forever but important whilst it lasts!

 

Its a shame that the Government seems to be trying to rush women back into the work place - that's right for some but not for others.

 

Its been a struggle and sometimes I do feel intellectually starved but it will pass! Just posting between tea and bed so rushed and possibly not very well put so bear with, as they say!

[The Dogmother]

I totally agree with you both, and would have loved the chance to be an at home mother; as some of you know, circumstances forced me to return to work when Rosie was just 8 weeks old, and to raise her on my own... it tore my heart out to do this, and it hasn't been easy, but she has grown into a bright, sassy, personable, independent and caring young woman (also a stroppy moo at times )

 

It's been a roller coaster of a ride, but she has got to play, spend time with animals and grub around with other children. It is sooo important that children get to LIVE their childhood, and don't feel the pressure to grow up too quickly.

[soapdragon]

Have you seen the newspaper articles about the Liz Hurley range of clothes for children with the bikinis for little girls? Horrible, horrible!

[majorbloodnock]

It's my considered opinion that the most important result of someone's childhood is that they learn how to learn. This equips the person with the skills necessary to adapt to new and unfamiliar circumstances - to stand on their own two feet, in common vernacular. Yes, of course it's important to learn how to read, write and calculate, but one cannot do so unless one has started picking up the habit of how to learn.

 

Perhaps more pertinent to this thread is that I have seen and continue to see young children being best equipped with this skill when they have been raised by parents who take an active part and, when the parents wish to or need to return to work, active and thoughtful nurseries or childminders. Moreover, if the child can look back and see a history of successful learning, that child can see the benefit of putting in effort. I can think of few things that are better preparation for formal education than that.

 

I fully understand there are disadvantaged children not given this fighting chance. However, in my opinion, the answer is not to change the education process but instead to tackle the reasons for those children being ignored. Tackle the substandard nurseries and childminders by all means, and especially try to identify and reach those parents who struggle to understand their roles and responsibilities, but do remember that they are a minority, so don't break what works well in the process.

 

OK, I didn't mean to join everyone on the soapbox, so I'll get off again to make room for the next comer.

[Willow]

Couldn't agree more Major, sweeping statements in reports do a huge dis-service to the many excellent parents, childminders and nurseries and reduces what they do to checklists. Early years should be a time for a child exploring their world and learning about all sorts of things and too much emphasis of what they should be doing at each stage is not always helpful. My ES is a summer baby and when he started school his teacher had a real problem with him because he couldn't sit still on the floor. He was fine on a chair but when they all sat on the floor he'd end up rolling around the floor, she couldn't seem to make allowances for him being younger than the rest , he wasn't being disruptive, he wasn't even aware he was doing it, he was just what my mum would call a wriggle bum The teacher also had a major problem with him being able to read when he started school, as a boy he wasn't supposed to want to learn to read so it meant there was something wrong with him (and us as parents sigh)

They placed so much emphasis on their lists of what everyone was supposed to do at each stage they couldn't handle outliers

[majorbloodnock]

...The teacher also had a major problem with him being able to read when he started school, as a boy he wasn't supposed to want to learn to read so it meant there was something wrong with him (and us as parents sigh)...

 

Us too, although it wasn't the teacher so much as the whole school who had a problem with it. My son started school perfectly capable of reading poems from "When we were very very young" and "Now we are six" simply because he'd got into the habit of reading them with me for the previous 5 years at bed time. The school, however, all but told us off for it. Ho, hum, as Pooh would say.....